How can a business avoid credit card fees?

Businesses can avoid credit card fees by using a cash discounting or dual pricing program that passes processing costs to customers who pay by card, not to the business itself.

These programs are legal across most of the U.S. and widely used in retail, restaurants, and service businesses. Card-paying customers see a slightly higher price while cash customers pay the base rate.

Negotiating an interchange-plus pricing structure with your processor also cuts fees compared to flat-rate or tiered plans, especially for businesses processing over $10,000 per month.

A local POS provider can bundle cash discounting directly into your payment setup, saving most businesses money from the first transaction.